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Velma Morrison: 1920-2013

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Aug. 19, 2012: Velma Morrison, one of the grande dames of Boise, celebrated her 92nd birthday with family and friends at Ann Morrison park. Morrison has helped nurture and grow the city's arts and culture though her patronage and support. The widow of industrialist Harry Morrison, she is the namesake for the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts that provides a performance home for the city's major arts organizations and national touring acts. Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesman

Aug. 19, 2012: Velma Morrison, one of the grande dames of Boise, celebrated her 92nd birthday with family and friends at Ann Morrison Park. Morrison has helped nurture and grow the city's arts and culture though her patronage and support. The widow of industrialist Harry Morrison, she is the namesake for the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts that provides a performance home for the city's major arts organizations and national touring acts. Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesman

Aug. 19, 2012: Velma Morrison, one of the grande dames of Boise, celebrated her 92nd birthday with family and friends at Ann Morrison Park. Morrison has helped nurture and grow the city's arts and culture though her patronage and support. The widow of industrialist Harry Morrison, she is the namesake for the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts that provides a performance home for the city's major arts organizations and national touring acts. Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesman

Aug. 19, 2012: Velma Morrison, one of the grande dames of Boise, celebrated her 92nd birthday with family and friends at Ann Morrison Park. Morrison has helped nurture and grow the city's arts and culture though her patronage and support. The widow of industrialist Harry Morrison, she is the namesake for the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts that provides a performance home for the city's major arts organizations and national touring acts. Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesman

Aug. 19, 2012: Velma Morrison, one of the grande dames of Boise, celebrated her 92nd birthday with family and friends at Ann Morrison Park. Morrison has helped nurture and grow the city's arts and culture though her patronage and support. The widow of industrialist Harry Morrison, she is the namesake for the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts that provides a performance home for the city's major arts organizations and national touring acts. Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesman

July 18, 2009: Among the grand dames of Boise, Velma Morrison and Esther Simplot were together at a party Morrison threw for her girlfriends, women she has known and respected for most of her years in Boise after marrying construction magnate Harry W. Morrison. Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesma

May 21, 2010: Her birthday isn't until August, when she'll turn 90, but Velma Morrison began the celebration on Thursday night with a free "All Gershwin" concert by the Boise Philharmonic. She is presented with flowers by John Stedman, president of the Philharmonic Board, before the performance. Katherine Jones/Idaho Statesman

Velma Morrison Ñ business woman, philanthropist and one of the grande dammes of Boise Ñ hostessed a party for her girlfriends on Saturday afternoon. The guest list included First Lady Lori Otter; they laugh together during some of the comic entertainment. Katherine Jones / Idaho Statesma

Velma Morrison at her home in Boise. Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman

Velma Morrison at her home in Boise, photographed in 2008. Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman

July 28, 2006: Velma Morrison, of the Morrison Foundation, has partnered with Supportive Housing and Innovative Partnerships and SHIP's Second Chance Building Materials Center to make the remodeling of the Strand Building she owns at 815 Park Avenue a green one. Materials removed from the building will be sold through Second Chance to support SHIP, a housing program for substance abusers trying to get their lives on track. As part of the program, some SHIP residents are working with the construction contractors to learn life skills. The remodeled building will be more environmentally friendly, she said.

July 31, 2005: Velma Morrison celebrated her 85th birthday party at Mardi Gras on Saturday. Around 400 people came together to celebrate with her.

Oct. 9, 1999: Velma Morrison unveils a sign on the new Harry W. Morrison Civil Engineering Building at Boise State University. Morrison and other BSU officials marked the opening of the new building with a dedication ceremony Friday afternoon. The Harry W. Morrison Foundation provided $2 million toward the construction of the building. The donation was part of the funds that matched Micron Technology Inc.'s $6 million grant.

Aug. 28, 1998: Velma Morrison, right, is greeted by Boise Mayor Brent Coles after the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning for two new buildings at BSU.

Oct 22, 1997: Velma Morrison is honored in appreciation for the Harry W. Morrison Foundation gift of $2 million to BSU for a civil-engineering building.

April 11, 1997: MK shareholders meeting

Oct 22, 1997: Velma Morrison receives a sweatshirt from Boise State University engineering student Phil Clements in appreciation for the Harry W. Morrison Foundation gift of $2 million to BSU for a civil-engineering building.

July, 1996: Velma Morrison.

June 1986: Velma Morrison married longtime friend John Hockberger. The couple traveled and worked together for the Morrison Foundation to benefit organizations in Idaho. Hockberger died in 2008.

June 1986: Velma Morrison married longtime friend John Hockberger. The couple traveled and worked together for the Morrison Foundation to benefit organizations in Idaho. Hockberger died in 2008.

June 1986: Velma Morrison married longtime friend John Hockberger. The couple traveled and worked together for the Morrison Foundation to benefit organizations in Idaho. Hockberger died in 2008.

June 1986: Velma Morrison married longtime friend John Hockberger. The couple traveled and worked together for the Morrison Foundation to benefit organizations in Idaho. Hockberger died in 2008.